Alberobello Shore Excursion from Bari

This is the most popular Bari shore trip for guests with limited time in port. It visits the fairy tale town of Alberobello, known for its whitewashed, round trulli houses with gray, cone-shaped stone roofs.

After meeting your guide, you travel along a scenic road through olive groves and along the coast, through the traditional landscape of southern Italy, until you reach Alberobello. The town is filled with trulli, a style of building common throughout Apulia, but Alberobello is unique for being an entire town built almost entirely of them. The word trullo comes from the Latin turris, meaning tower. The old town has about a hundred of these structures on a hillside surrounded by olive trees. The exact origin of the circular, stone teepee-roofed buildings is unknown, though local tradition places it as far back as 5,000 years; a more commonly cited historical theory ties their spread to the Middle Ages, when heavy house taxation encouraged builders to use dry stone construction that could be dismantled quickly to avoid inspection. Today the buildings are permanent, and stepping inside is worthwhile: the conical roof covers a single room, often divided by colorful curtains, in sharp contrast to the stark white walls. Simple furniture made from olive wood, the work of local farmers who have lived in these buildings for generations, fills the interiors. The thick stone walls keep the buildings cool in summer, while a central hearth provided heat in winter. In 1996, Alberobello was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

While in Alberobello, you have a short amount of free time for lunch on your own. At the end of the tour, you return to the pier in Bari.

• Mobility: Due to uneven surfaces, steps, and walking distances, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.